Apparatus for whitening and aging flour.



H, SGHUSTER.

APPARATUS FOR WHITENING AND AGING norm. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1908.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE,

HERMAN SOHUSTER, OF COLUMBUS, NEBRASKA.

APPARATUS FOR WHITE Application filed June 22 To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN ScrrUs'rEn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Columbus, in the county of Platte and State of Nebraska,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forWhitening and Aging Flour and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will on ableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for whitening and agingflour. The object of the invention is to produce a clear, colorlessvapor having properties which, when brought into contact with the flourby means of my improved apparatus, will thoroughly whiten, ago andimprove the quality of the flour.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts aswill be described and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the. accompanying drawing is shown a diagrammatic sectional view ofthe apparatus for carrying out my improved process.

My improved process for whitening and aging flour consists in forcingair through a solution of pure nitric acid, thereby producing an oxid ofnitrogen vapor, which is thoroughly mixed with the flour and by contacttherewith whitens and ages the same.

In carrying out my invention and in order to produce the desired resultstherefrom I provide a closed tank or vessel, 1, of suitable size andpreferably formed of glass. In the tank is placed the required quantityof pure nitric acid. Connected to the tank is an air conducting pipe, 2,the end of which extends down into the tank to near the bottom of thesame, where it is formed with a reduced discharge tip through which theair is injected into the acid. The portion, 3, of the tube, 2, whichextends into the tank is preferably formed of glass. Connected to theupper end of the tank is a discharge pipe, 4, through which the oxid ofnitrogen vapor formed by the air when forced through the nitric acidpasses to the mixing device which is provided to bring the vapor intothorough contact with the flour. The mixing device by which I carry outthis mixing operation comprises a fixed cylinder, 5, closed at itsopposite ends and having connected to its upper end a Specification ofLetters Patent.

, 1908. Serial No. 439,819.

NING AND AGING FLOUR.

Patented April 13, 1909.

flour conducting tube, 6, and to its lower end a discharge spout, 7.Suitably mounted in the center of the cylinder, 5, is a longitudinallydisposed shaft, 8, on which is fixed for rotation, a cylindrical screen,9. On the upper end of the shaft, 8, is mounted a bevel gear, 10, whichis engaged with a bevel gear, 12, on an operating shaft, 18, which ismounted in suitable bearings on the cylinder, 5, and is provided on itsouter end with a band wheel, 14, by means of which the shaft isconnected to a suitable driving mechanism, not shown.

In the operation of the device the flour is discharged into the upperend of the screen, 9, through the tube, 6, and the oxid of nitrogen isintroduced into the upper end of the cylinder through the pipe, l. Theflour, after entering the screen, 9, is thrown or sifted through thesame into the cylinder, 5, where it comes into contact with the oxid ofnitro gen therein, which acts on the flour to produce the resultshereinbefore described. The air is forced through the nitric acid in thetank 1 by means of an air pump or any other suitable device, not shown.

By producing a perfectly colorless vapor of the character described, theaction thereof on the flour will be such as to bleach or whiten and agethe same without in any mannr-n' affecting the good qualities of theflour.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, the construction and operation of the inventionwill be readily understood without requiring a more extendedexplanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted. to without departing from the printheinvention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters- Patent, is:

In an apparatus of the character described, a vertically disposedcylinder having in its lower end an offset discharge spout and at itsupper end a top pierced adjacent its center centrally mounted forrevolution in said cylinder, a cylindrical screen fixed on said shaft,said screen having a closed lower end and being of such diameter as toform with the cylinder a narrow annular passage-way, an

ciple or sacrificing any of the advantages of by a flour supply tube, anoperating shaft operating mechanism connected to the upper end of theshaft for rotating said screen in the cylinder whereby the flour isthoroughly agitated and projected into the annular passageway, and meansto discharge a whitening and aging vapor or gas into said cylinderadjacent the flour inlet, said Vapor being discharged simultaneouslywith the flour through the discharge spout whereby it is in 10 contactand Will be thoroughly mixed With the flour in all stages of its passagethrough the screen.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HERMAN SCHUSTER.

Witnesses DANIEL SCHRAM, FRANK RORER.

